Politics & Government

Despite Slowdown in Growth, Cherokee Still Gained Residents

Cherokee County added 2,500 new residents between 2012 and 2013, bringing its population estimate to be around 223,300.

Between 2010 and 2013, Cherokee County added just under 10,000 residents.

That's according to new population estimates released by the Atlanta Regional Commission on Friday.

In 2010, Cherokee's population stood at 214,346. In 2013, the ARC estimates the county's population is now 223,300. The ARC estimates the county's annual average amount of people it added between 2010 and 2013 was 2,985. 

Cherokee's population in 2012 was 222,800 and, with the addition of 2,500 people between 2012 and 2013, the population is believed to be right around 223,300. 

The 10-county metro Atlanta added roughly 40,100 people between April 1, 2012, and April 1 of this year, bringing the region's population to 4.2 million. 

“While our latest population estimates reflect slower growth than we became accustomed to in the 90s and 2000s, metro Atlanta is still a place that attracts many people,” said Doug Hooker, ARC's executive director.  “Our local jurisdictions have had a few years to catch their collective breaths and are preparing for faster growth that will come as the housing market and the economy continue to bounce back.”

The full population estimate findings can be viewed on the ARC's website. Some notable changes include:

  • Fulton County, still the largest in metro Atlanta, added 9,300 residents.
  • Gwinnett County added 9,100 new residents during the year. 
  • The growth of Fulton and Gwinnett counties was followed by Cobb (8,000), DeKalb (5,900) Henry (1,800) Clayton (1,400), Douglas (800) Fayette (700) and Rockdale (600).
The ARC notes that while the growth between 2012 and 2013 is still "considerably lower" than growth the region experienced during the 1990s and early 2000s, it's still higher than the growth experienced in 2011-12. 

The addition of 40,100 residents also is higher than the region's annual average growth of roughly 37,283 since 2010, the commission said. Specifically, ARC estimates the region averaged more than 77,000 new residents each year between 1990 and 2010.

The U.S. Census Bureau ranked the metro Atlanta area as the sixth fastest growing in the country when it came to the growth it experienced between 2012 and 2013. The bureau classified the rankings based on what it calls "urbanized areas." Atlanta's urbanized area includes 28 counties.

"People just don’t move as much when the economy is slow," said Mike Alexander, manager of ARC’s Research & Analytics Division. "And, considering that this recession severely impacted the housing industry, forcing property values down, fewer people are able to sell their homes and move to different metro areas, even if jobs are available there."

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